CANADIAN NATIONAL RAILWAYS

SUBMISSION OF ANNUAL REPORT AND ESTIMATES TO SPECIAL COMMITTEE

William Daum Euler

Liberal

Mr. Speaker, I should like to direct a question to the Minister of Railways and Canals (Mr. Manion). I believe he stated yesterday that the annual report of the Canadian National Railways would be tabled very soon. I would like to ask whether or not the government has decided on the establishment of the usual committee on the Canadian National Railways, and whether in that event both the report and the estimate which has just been submitted will be referred to that committee.

Topic: CANADIAN NATIONAL RAILWAYS
Subtopic: SUBMISSION OF ANNUAL REPORT AND ESTIMATES TO SPECIAL COMMITTEE

Robert James Manion
(Minister of Railways and Canals)

Conservative (1867-1942)

On the day I table the report I intend definitely to answer that question, though I think there is no reason to believe that we would object in any way to the establishment of the committee, if the house desires. Apparently the house does, so we will probably establish it, and submit both the report and the estimate to that committee.

Topic: CANADIAN NATIONAL RAILWAYS
Subtopic: SUBMISSION OF ANNUAL REPORT AND ESTIMATES TO SPECIAL COMMITTEE

SHIPS CLEARANCE PAPERS

On the orders of the day:
Mr. PIERRE F. CASGRAIN (Charlevoix-Saguenay) (Translation): Mr. Speaker, may I inquire of the hon. Minister of Marine (Mr. Duranleau) where navigators may obtain permits in French, when leaving various Canadian ports; and also, guide books relating to marine charts and tidal records. I received complaints from navigators, who, last year, endeavoured unsuccessfully to obtain these documents in French.

MR. EDGAR BOUTET

Jean-François Pouliot

Liberal

Mr. Speaker, is the government aware that Edgar Boutet, employed as secretary to the executive of the Post Office Department at a salary of $2,100 per year, from December 1, 1933, was present in the Press Gallery during the sitting of the house, at various times, since the beginning of the session? Is the government also aware that said Edgar Boutet is still the correspondent of the newspapers "Llllustration" of Montreal, and the "Journal" of Quebec, in which he writes false and unfounded articles about the members of this house? I should like the government to furnish me with full information relating to these two questions; moreover, whether the said Edgar Boutet is still in the employ of the Post Office Department; if not, when was he retired?

Richard Bedford Bennett
(Prime Minister; President of the Privy Council; Secretary of State for External Affairs)

Conservative (1867-1942)

and chief executive clerks to ministers are, of course, political appointees, and in the main they discharge political duties. If it is thought desirable that one of the secretaries to a minister should attend in the press gallery for the purpose of giving information to his minister, it has been the custom to do so, and always will be, so long as the offices of secretary and assistant secretary obtain. I have no knowledge of this particular case, but I merely mention that is so with respect to these matters in general. Whether or not Mr. Boutet is engaged in supplying information to journals favourable to his chief I cannot at the moment say, but if he is I

Social Reforms-Mr. Bourassa

may say he is following a custom which has been pursued by men in his position since the position came into being, and will continue long afteT he has ceased to occupy his present post.

PENSION ACT AMENDMENT

On the orders of the day:
Mr. F. G. SANDERSON _ (South Perth): Yesterday I directed a question to the Minister of Pensions and National Health (Mr. MacLaren). The question was one I had asked previously, namely, on February 6, last. When the minister replied yesterday I was unable to hear him. The answer I saw in Hansard this morning is ambiguous, and does not convey anything. I shall put the question to him again. Is it the intention of the government this session to bring down any amendment or amendments to the Pension Act?

CON

Murray MacLaren
(Minister of Pensions and National Health)

Conservative (1867-1942)

is very similar to the one I gave yesterday: The government has not considered the subject. Yesterday the hon. member asked whether it was the intention of the government to bring down legislation, and I said the answer was in the negative. In other words, the government has not considered the subject.

Mr. (SANDERSON: If I may be permitted to say so, when I put the question to the minister on February 6, his answer was that the matter was under consideration.